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Mancini: I did not watch Icardi penalty

A fearless Mauro Icardi earned Inter a 2-2 draw at Napoli, but head coach Roberto Mancini could not watch his crucial penalty.

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Written ByPeter Hanson

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Roberto Mancini was unable to watch as Mauro Icardi's dramatic
late penalty earned Inter a 2-2 draw at Napoli on Sunday.

Napoli looked set to move within two points of second-placed
Roma as Marek Hamsik's header and a wonderful long-range strike
from Gonzalo Higuain put Rafael Benitez's men into 2-0 lead at
Stadio San Paolo.

However, Rodrigo Palacio reduced the arrears, before Icardi
showed supreme confidence with a chipped penalty in the 85th minute
after Fredy Guarin had been felled by Henrique - earning the
full-back a second yellow card and subsequent red.

"We were playing against a great side. We could not expect to
dominate. It is also true that Napoli has great offensive potential
and it is normal that they can get you in trouble in some moments
of the game."

Icardi also spoke with reporters after the final whistle and
explained that he opted for his cheeky effort because he is well
acquainted with Napoli goalkeeper Mariano Andujar and felt his
fellow Argentina international would have studied his previous
penalties.

"I decided to take it like that because Andujar studies very
well the attackers he faces," he said.

"We always want to win, but we gained a point which helps
improve our league standing."